Bridgewater eyes transportation hub at Commons

BRIDGEWATER — Bridgewater is hoping to update its antiquated circulation plan and the administration is floating plans to implement a new transit hub at the heavily trafficked Bridgewater Commons mall as well as bolster options for bicyclists and pedestrians.

A proposed update to the township circulation plan will be the topic of discussion at
Tuesday's Planning Board meeting. While it isn’t mandatory for municipalities to update this aspect of their master plans, Bridgewater Engineer Bob Bogart said it is important for a growing community like Bridgewater.

“There seems to be an emphasis statewide on getting people out of their cars and finding alternative forms of transportation. Right now, it’s forced by the society we live in where so many people rely on their cars to get to work,” Bogart said. “It’s a statewide agenda that’s being tackled in a local sense.”

Among the recommendations that will be presented to the Planning Board are a new transit hub at Bridgewater Commons, encouraging shared parking among businesses in the township and expanding bicycle and pedestrian trails and paths were possible.

Though bus service is available at Bridgewater Commons currently, Bogart believes the possibility exists to expand public transportation options by using the mall as a hub to connect the township’s train station and businesses.

“I don’t think that you would have to build a structure necessarily to make this happen. If the community wanted to make this happen, I think you could implement this pretty easily,” he said. “I think if you could get the support of the community as well as the commuting community and somehow convince them to get out of their cars and make use of forms of available public transportation it’s very possible.”

In order for any of the circulation plan changes to take effect, the Planning Board will need to approve them to allow the council to draft ordinances to make them a reality.
Bridgewater Council President Matthew Moench said as Bridgewater grows, its master plan, and in turn circulation plan, need to grow with it.

“Businesses are attracted to Bridgewater in part because of its great location and its access to so many major roadways and highways,” he said. “Improved circulation will only increase the desirability of Bridgewater as a location for businesses, which help to build our commercial tax base.”

The Planning Board will meet to discuss the Circulation Plan at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Bridgewater Municipal Complex.